Thumb-sucking deterrent device and method of use

ABSTRACT

A thumb-sucking deterrent device which is characterized in a first preferred embodiment by a typically plastic base or plate which is flexible or pre-formed to conform to the curvature of a thumbnail or fingernail and at least one protuberance projecting from the opposite surface of the plate, such that the plate can be glued to a child&#39;s thumbnail or fingernail and thus utilized to deter thumb and finger-sucking behavior. A method of deterring thumb-sucking and finger-sucking which includes the steps of providing a flexible or pre-formed plate which substantially conforms to the curvature of the thumbnail or fingernail of a child, providing at least one upward-standing protuberance on the opposite surface of the plate and gluing the plate to the thumbnail or fingernail, wherein the protuberance contacts the tongue when the child inserts the thumb or the finger and the thumb-sucking deterrent device inside the mouth.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by referenceprior filed copending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/606,538,Filed Sep. 2, 2004.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices for deterring or preventing thumb andfinger-sucking, especially in children and more particularly, to athumb-sucking deterrent device and method of use which is characterizedby a flexible or pre-formed, typically curved plate adapted for gluingon the thumb or finger and the thumbnail or fingernail in particular,with at least one upward-standing protuberance such as a finger or waferprovided thereon for deterring sucking of the thumb or finger. In afirst preferred embodiment the flexible or curved plate is constructedof a material such as plastic and includes multiple, upward-standingfingers of selected cross-sectional configuration, height and shape,arranged in a desired position and pattern on the top, typically convexsurface of the plate, for contacting the tongue in a child's mouth. Abottom grid or textured surface is preferably provided on the bottom,typically concave side of the plate for receiving a supply of glue andtemporarily securing the plate to the child's thumbnail or fingernail.In another embodiment the plate is fitted with one or more wafers ofselected thickness, spacing and height extending upwardly from the topsurface of the plate for engaging the tongue or roof palate and therebydeterring sucking of the thumb or finger. While an ethylcyanoacrylate-base or “Super Glue” (trademark) product is preferred fortemporarily gluing the concave, preferably textured or grid portion ofthe plate to the thumbnail or fingernail, alternative, non-toxic gluesknown to those skilled in the art can be utilized, all of which must becapable of being dissolved in a suitable solvent to remove the platefrom the nail at desirable times. The ethyl cyanoacrylate-base glue iseasily removed from the nail by application of a solvent such as acetoneor fingernail polish remover.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, multiple,upward-standing fingers extend from the top surface of the plate and areeach characterized by a cylindrically-shaped base that tapers or isrounded at the top to define a rounded or flat finger tip designed toengage the tongue or roof palate of a child and inhibit thumb andfinger-sucking. A primary advantage of the thumb-sucking deterrentdevice of this invention is gluing of the device to the thumb or fingerand the thumbnail or fingernail in particular, thereby eliminating thenecessity for using ties, straps or other attachment devices forremovably securing the thumb-sucking deterrent device to the thumb orfinger.

The invention includes a method of deterring thumb and finger-sucking,especially in children, which method includes the steps of providing aflexible or pre-formed, typically curved plate constructed of a suitablenon-toxic material such as plastic, ceramic or the like and capable ofdefining or having a curvature substantially matching the curvature ofthe thumb or finger and the thumbnail or fingernail in particular;providing a typically textured concave surface or grid on all or aportion of the bottom plate curvature for receiving a suitable glue suchas an ethyl cyanoacrylate-base glue, for removably securing the plate tothe nail; and providing at least one, and preferably severalprotuberances or projections of selected size, shape and length, such asfingers and/or wafers, extending from the upper, typically convexsurface of the plate, for engaging the tongue or roof palate of thechild and deterring thumb and finger-sucking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first preferred embodiment of thethumb-sucking deterrent device of this invention, more particularlyillustrating a curved plate glued to the thumbnail of a thumb(illustrated in phantom) and fitted with multiple, upward-standingfingers for inhibiting sucking of the thumb;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the thumb-sucking deterrent device illustratedin FIG. 1, inserted with the thumb in the mouth of a child, moreparticularly illustrating the upward-standing fingers contacting thetongue in the child's mouth;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the thumb-sucking deterrent deviceillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the thumb-sucking deterrent device illustratedin FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the thumb-sucking deterrent deviceillustrated in FIG. 4, more particularly illustrating a typical grid ortexture in the bottom concave plate surface for application of an ethylcyanoacrylate-base or alternative glue, typically to the perimeter ofthe grid or textured surface of the plate element;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the thumb-suckingdeterrent device of this invention wherein multiple fingers areupward-standing in a substantial circular pattern from the typicallyconvex top surface of the curved plate element;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of theinvention wherein a single finger is upward-standing from the convexupper surface of the curved plate element of the thumb-sucking deterrentdevice; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of still another preferred embodiment ofthe invention wherein multiple wafers are upward-standing from theconvex top surface of the curved plate element of the thumb-suckingdeterrent device, with the wafers disposed in spaced-apart relationshipwith respect to each other for engaging the tongue of a child duringthumb-sucking, as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings in a first preferredembodiment, a multiple finger device of the thumb-sucking deterrentdevice of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral1. The multiple finger device 1 is typically characterized by a flexibleor pre-curved plate 2, which is typically constructed of plastic orother non-toxic, relatively resilient material and typically has, or isshaped to define, a convex top plate surface 3 and a concave bottomplate grid or textured surface 4, as illustrated in FIG. 5 of thedrawings. The plate edge 5 of the plate 2 can be of any desiredthickness to facilitate bending or pre-curve molding of the plate 2, butis preferably relatively thin to facilitate a desired degree offlexibility and define a small, yet easily applied and implementedmultiple finger device 1. Multiple fingers 6 of selected length andcross-sectional configuration are upward-standing from the typicallyconvex top plate surface 3 in a desired spacing and pattern and maytypically be glued in place, or the fingers 6 may be constructed ofceramic or other suitable material, or injection-molded of plastic inplace with the plate 2, according to the knowledge of those skilled inthe art. In a most preferred embodiment the finger base 7 of each of thefingers 6 extends upwardly from the top plate surface 3 and tapers or isrounded near the top at a tapered or rounded shoulder 8, to define arounded or flat finger tip 9. The rounded or flat finger tip 9 of thefinger base 7 is designed to contact and engage the tongue 27 in themouth 25, (both illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2), when the thumb 21,also illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2, is inserted in the mouth 25 pastthe lips 26. This position of the thumb 21 locates the thumbnail 22 ofthe first thumb digit 23 and the applied multiple finger device 1adjacent to the tongue 27, in typical thumb-sucking configuration.

Referring again to FIG. 5 of the drawings, in another preferredembodiment of the invention at least a portion of the bottom plate gridor textured surface 4 is preferably rough, in order to receive aquantity of glue 19 such as an ethyl cyanoacrylate-base glue, andfacilitate temporarily gluing the curved concave bottom plate grid ortextured surface 4 to the thumbnail 22. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that sufficient glue 19 should be applied to thebottom plate grid or textured surface 4 or to the thumbnail 22 tofacilitate securely attaching the flexible or pre-curved plate 2 to thethumbnail 22 at the first thumb digit 23 of the thumb 21, as illustratedin FIG. 2, in order to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized removal ofthe multiple finger device 1 from the thumbnail 22. Accordingly, itmight in some cases be necessary to apply the glue 19 to the entirebottom plate grid or textured surface 4, depending upon theaggressiveness of the child to the thumbnail of which the multiplefinger device 1 is attached.

Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that a selected number of the fingers 6 can be fixedto, or molded or cast integrally with the top plate surface 3 of theplate 2 in any desired configuration. For example, referring again toFIG. 3 of the drawings, the upward-standing fingers 6 are arranged in asubstantially triangular configuration, while in FIG. 6 the fingers 6are arranged in a more circular configuration. The specific arrangement,configuration, pattern, number, size and shape of the fingers 6 on thetop plate surface 3 of the plate 2 is therefore variable and may beselected according to the need, age and size of the particular child inquestion.

Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawings, in yet another preferred embodimentof the invention a single finger device 11 includes a single finger 6extending upwardly from the typically convex top plate surface 3 of theplate 2, where it may either be glued in place or injection-molded orcast or otherwise fabricated in one piece with the plate 2, as desired.In a most preferred embodiment of the invention the finger 6 ischaracterized by a cylindrically-shaped finger base 7 that tapers or isrounded at the top thereof to define a tapered or rounded shoulder 8,which converges to end in a curved or flat fingertip 9, as in the caseof the multiple fingers 6 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings.However, as heretofore described, the finger 6 illustrated in FIG. 7 ofthe drawings can be sized and shaped according to the need, age and sizeof the child in question.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention a multiple waferdevice 13 is illustrated in FIG. 8 and includes multiple wafers 14,which are spaced-apart and upward-standing from the typically convex topplate surface 3 of a flexible or pre-curved plate 2. In a most preferredembodiment the wafers 14 are each characterized by oppositely-disposed,curved wafer shoulders 17 that extend upwardly from the wafer bottom 15to typically define a flat wafer top 16 that engages the tongue 27inside a child's mouth 25 and inhibits thumb-sucking, in the same manneras the fingers 6 illustrated in FIG. 2.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that thethumb-sucking deterrent and method of this invention as detailed in thedrawings with respect to the thumb of a child, is equally applicable toone or more of the child's fingers for the same purpose. Furthermore,the device is characterized in a most preferred embodiment by an easilyconstructed and implemented flat or pre-curved plate 2 of selected size,which may be injection-molded or cast from such materials as plastic orother non-toxic material, including stainless steel, ceramic and thelike, and is fitted with at least one upward-standing finger 6 and/orwafer 14 or the equivalent thereof or both. Such a device is easilyglued to the thumbnail or fingernail(s) of a child to facilitateengagement of the upward-standing member or members with the tongue 27or even the hard upper palate 24 (FIG. 2) of the child's mouth,depending upon the position of the device on the thumb 21 or thethumbnail 22, or on one or more fingers, to deter or prevent thumb andfinger-sucking. Alternatively, the plate 2 may be constructed of a thin,flexible plastic material of selected shape and size which can be easilyconformed to the child's thumb or thumbnail and glued in place.Accordingly, in a first preferred embodiment the plate 2 is eitherpre-shaped or flexed to substantially conform to the curvature of thethumbnail 22 on the first thumb digit 23 of a child's thumb 21, where itmay be glued in place. Furthermore, a typical glue 19 for application tothe bottom plate grid or textured surface 4 as illustrated in FIG. 5 ofthe drawings, is ethyl cyanoacrylate-base glue which can be dissolved toremove the device from the thumb or finger by application of a suitablesolvent such as acetone or fingernail polish remover, as describedabove. Alternatively, other glues can be utilized to temporarily securethe device on the thumb or finger, so long as these glues are not toxicand are easily dissolved by a suitable solvent when it is desired toremove the thumb-sucking deterrent device from the thumbnail orfingernail of the child.

It will also be appreciated that the length and shape of the respectiveupward-standing fingers 6 may vary, with various cross-sectionalconfigurations, including polygons such as triangles, squares, pentagonsand the like, as well as the illustrated cylinders, used in the devices,in non-exclusive particular. Moreover, bitter tasting substances may beadded to the finger 6, as desired.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationsmay be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

1. A digit-sucking deterrent device comprising a plate; at least oneprojection extending from said plate; and glue disposed between saidplate and a selected area of the digit for removably securing said plateto the digit.
 2. The digit-sucking deterrent device of claim 1 whereinsaid plate is flexible for substantially conforming to the curvature ofthe selected area of the digit.
 3. The digit-sucking deterrent device ofclaim 1 wherein said plate is curved for substantially conforming to thecurvature of the selected area of the digit.
 4. The digit-suckingdeterrent device of claim 1 wherein said at least one projectioncomprises a plurality of fingers extending from said plate in a selectedfinger pattern.
 5. The digit-sucking deterrent device of claim 2 whereinsaid at least one projection comprises a plurality of fingers extendingfrom said plate in a selected finger pattern.
 6. The digit-suckingdeterrent device of claim 3 wherein said at least one finger comprises aplurality of fingers extending from said plate in a selected fingerpattern.
 7. The digit-sucking deterrent device of claim 1 wherein atleast a portion of said plate is textured for receiving said glue andadhering said plate to the selected area of the digit.
 8. Thedigit-sucking deterrent device of claim 1 wherein said at least oneprojection comprises at least one substantially cylindrical fingerhaving a tapered projecting end.
 9. The digit-sucking deterrent deviceof claim 8 wherein said plate is curved for substantially conforming tothe curvature of the selected area of the digit.
 10. The digit-suckingdeterrent device of claim 8 wherein said at least one substantiallycylindrical finger comprises a plurality of substantially cylindricalfingers arranged in a selected pattern on said plate and said selectedarea of the digit is the digitnail.
 11. The digit-sucking deterrentdevice of claim 10 wherein said plate is curved and at least a portionof said plate is textured for substantially conforming to the curvatureof the digitnail and removably adhering to the digitnail.
 12. Athumb-sucking deterrent device comprising a plate; a concave surfaceprovided on said plate for substantially conforming to the curvature ofthe thumbnail of a thumb; at least one protuberance extending from saidplate; and glue disposed between at least a portion of said concavesurface of said plate and the thumbnail for removably securing saidplate to the thumbnail.
 13. The thumb-sucking deterrent device of claim12 comprising a textured area provided in at least a portion of saidconcave surface of said plate for receiving said glue and enhancing theadhesion of said glue to said portion of said concave surface of saidplate.
 14. The thumb-sucking deterrent device of claim 12 wherein saidat least one protuberance comprises a plurality of fingers extendingfrom said plate in a selected pattern.
 15. The thumb-sucking deterrentdevice of claim 14 wherein at least one of said fingers comprises acylindrical finger having a rounded projecting end and comprising atextured area provided in at least a portion of said concave surface ofsaid plate for receiving said glue and enhancing adhesion of said glueto said portion of said concave surface of said plate.
 16. Thethumb-sucking deterrent device of claim 15 wherein said plate and saidfingers are constructed in one piece.
 17. A method of deterringthumb-sucking comprising the steps of: sizing a plate to fit on aselected area of a thumb; providing at least one protuberance on theplate; and gluing the plate to the selected area of the thumb with theprotuberance projecting outwardly of the thumb to deter sucking of thethumb.
 18. The method according to claim 17 comprising the step oftexturing at least a portion of the plate to receive the glue andenhance said gluing of the plate to the thumbnail of the thumb.
 19. Amethod of deterring thumb-sucking, comprising the steps of: providing aplate having a concave surface for fitting on the thumbnail of a thumb;providing at least one projection on the plate; and gluing the concavesurface of the plate to the thumbnail with the projection projectingoutwardly of the thumbnail to deter sucking of the thumb.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 19 comprising the step of texturing at least aportion of the concave surface of the plate for receiving the glue andenhancing said gluing of the concave surface of the plate to thethumbnail.
 21. A method of deterring thumb-sucking comprising the stepsof: providing a flexible plate which is sized and shaped to fit on thethumbnail of a thumb; providing a plurality of fingers extending fromone side of the flexible plate in a selected pattern; and gluing theopposite side of the flexible plate from said one side to the thumbnailto deter sucking of the thumb.
 22. The method according to claim 21comprising the step of texturing at least a portion of the opposite sideof the flexible plate to receive the glue and enhance said gluing of theopposite side of the flexible plate to the thumbnail.